Surgical dilator



Patented Mar. 7, 1950 SURGICQL DILATOR` Otto Kraemer,`v ASan Angelo, Tex.

Application December 9, 1947, Serial No. 790,497

My invention relates to surgical dilators, and more particularly to a dilater for the womb.

An important object is to 'provide a surgical dilator for insertion into the lwomb for expanding the same, the dilator being retracted or closeda` when inserted, and adapted to expand or open automatically after insertion.

A further object is to provide a surgical dilator or womb expander, including longitudinal expanding members which move radially when .ex-

panding and closing.

A further object .is to provide a surgical dilator having parts to hold the dilator in a retracted position before insertion into the organ, said parts melting after insertion to permit the opening of the dilator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned class which is simple and practical, and quite inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a surgical dilator embodying the invention, showing the same in the retracted or closed position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the dilator in the expanded or open position.

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 6.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the closed dilator shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the expande dilator of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on line G-E of Figure 2.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I designates a cylindrical tubular casing or shell, which is smooth and polished on its external surface, and preferably formed of suitable metal such as a nickel alloy or surgical steel. The cylindrical shell I0 is provided with annular inserts I I at its opposite ends, and these inserts have outer shoulders I2 which are rounded to provide smooth edges at the ends of the shell.

Mounted upon the inside surface of the shell itl, at the axial center of the same, and equidistantly spaced angularly about the shell are three 4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-341) l .form of a strip lof spring steel, or the like,:rigid- Vly secured at its outer end lil to the wall of shell g I0. Each spring is generally flat and is provided with aniinner rolledend I5, forming asleeve having its axis parallel to the axis of shell l0. The

lsprings 1.3 are tensioned radially outwardly rwith respect to shell Il), and normally assume positions adjacent to the Wall .of the shell, as in Figure 5. Thesprings yIt `are preferably capable of exerting a vmaximum radial expanding force of `approximately 3A; pound.

Rigidly secured within the sleeves L and extending parallel to ythe axis of yshell vI'il are longiexpander springs i3. Each spring I3 is in the 55 tudinal expanding prongs or fingers I6, having radially inwardly curved blunt ends Il. The prongs I6 extend outwardly axially from both ends of shell Il, as shown. At one end, the prongs I6 project longitudinally for a greater distance from the shell than at the opposite end. The prongs preferably project longitudinally of the shell IIi for approximately 1% inches at one end, and for approximately 1% of an inch at the opposite end.

The prongs I6 carried by springs I3 are adapted to move inwardly radially to closed or retracted positions, Figures 1 and 4. When in 'this retracted position, the springs I3 assume substantially radial positions, as shown in Figure 4. The prongs I5 are held in the retracted or closed position by plastic end caps I8, having spherically curved ends I9. These end caps are slipped over the ends I'I of the prongs, as shown in Figure 1. The end caps I8 are formed of material which is solid at normal atmospheric conditions, but which melts or dissolves gradually at body ternperature and in the presence of the moisture in the body tissue. The path of movement of the prongs i6 is radial, with respect to shell I0, when going from the retracted to the open or expanded positions.

In use, the closed device is inserted bodily into the womb. The action of body heat and moisture causes the end caps I8 to gradually melt or dissolve. As this occurs, the end caps begin to yield, and the prongs l@ move slowly to the expanding or open positions, Figure 2. In this open position, the prongs I5 engage the walls of the womb and expand or dilate the same. The curved ends Il engage the adjacent tissue of the body, and prevent the device from movement axially or longitudinally, after it is open.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example oi the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A surgical dilator for the womb, comprising a, cylindrical shell, springs disposed Within the shell and secured to the wall of the same and tending to move outwardly radially with respect to the shell, prongs secured to the springs for movement therewith and extending longitudinally beyond the ends of the shell, the prongs having inwardly curved ends, and end caps to engage over the ends of the prongs to hold the same in a retracted position, said end caps being adapted to melt gradually when inserted into the body.

2. A surgical dilator for the womb, comprising a tubular substantially cylindrical shell, substantially equidistantly spaced spring strips disposed within the shell and secured thereto and having rolled ends forming sleeves, the axes of the sleeves being substantially parallel to the axis of the shell, longitudinal prongs secured within the sleeves and extending longitudinally beyond the ends of the shell, the prongs including curved ends which project radially inwardly with respect to the shell, and end caps to engage over the ends of the prongs to secure the same in a retracted position, the end caps melting upon insertion into the womb to permit the prongs to move radially outwardly to expanded positions.

3. A surgical dilator for the womb comprising a cylindrical shell open at the ends thereof, n-

gitudinally extending fingers extending through said shell and extending from the opposite ends thereof, spring means in said shell engaging said fingers for biasing said ngers radially outwardly from the center of said shell and a soluble member engageable on said lingers for restraining said fingers in the center of said shell against the spring tension.

4. A surgical dilator for the womb comprising a tubular shell, circumferentially spaced apart ngers in said shell and extending from the ends thereof, resilient members in said shell engaging said fingers for moving said fingers outwardly for engagement with the inner wall of said shell, and a soluble member engaging said lingers for restraining said fingers in the center of said shell.

OTTO KRAEMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,433,031 Pegaitaz Oct. 24, 1922 2,063,202 Spicer Dec. 8, 1936 OTHER REFERENCES Page 333, Item 1130-31, of the 1938 Complete General Catalogue of V. Mueller & Co., Ogden Avenue at Van Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois. Copy in Div. of Patent Office. 

